Page 72 of A Reign of Chromes & Shadows

“My friends were just leaving.” Rain stepped aside with regal precision and nodded to Jay and Wren.

Wren scanned her palm and stepped off, shoulders hunched, eyes darting across the platform. Jay hesitated, touching Rain’s arm with a soft, lingering pressure.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Go straight home. Rest. That kiss was painful; you’ll feel it soon. Take pain meds and rest.”

Jay sighed but smiled, mouthingI love youbefore stepping off the train. Rain’s chest tightened at the sight of Jay’s bravery, his fragility, the way he tried to hide both.

“Thank you… your highness,” the guard muttered as Rain retreated into the carriage, bowing his head just enough to avoid offense.

Rain ignored him. His attention was fixed entirely on Jay and Wren. He watched them until the train pulled away, eyes tracking every movement, every shift in their posture. He kept his channel open, stretching his awareness as far as it would go, refusing to let go until their energies slipped out of reach like fading warmth.

Chapter 27

“It was much harder than you’d think, but I have the birthing-blood testing kit,” Snow announced as she swept into Rain’s room without knocking, Eleanour hurrying behind her. Rain looked up from the textbook open on his desk; research on blood-testing procedures. Now that Snow had the kit, they were finally ready.

Eleanour carried a large brown leather medical case; presumably the kit.

“Nurse Aphlee was reluctant to hand it over. Anyone would think she was Aetherial herself, the way she clung to the box of Aetherchrome.” Snow gestured toward the small table by the armchair. “Just place it there, Eleanour. Thank you.”

Eleanour obeyed, bowing slightly to Rain before slipping out.

“She’s still scared of me,” Rain murmured, watching the door close.

“That’s to be expected. Some of the long-term staff have… history.” Snow avoided the darker details. “Anyway—science experiment time.”

She shrugged off her blue velvet bolero, crescent moons glittering across the fabric as she tossed it onto the bed before settling into the armchair. Rain followed, lifting the side table with his power and setting it neatly in front of her. He opened the leather case, unfastening each brass zipper with care, laying out the contents piece by piece. Snow unfolded the medical tray for the blood samples while Rain arranged the vials of Aetherchrome chips.

“Okay,” he said, tapping the tray. “We need eight blood samples each. We’ll cut and drip parallel to each other—here, here, here and so on—so we can test simultaneously. We’ll get the same results, obviously, but we may as well do it properly.”

“Agreed,” Snow said, nodding.

“Then we simply drop the Aetherchrome of choice into the sample; if our blood holds the same frequency as the Aetherchrome it will react. The texts state that crystal will draw out the essence of the power within the blood sample and use it to recharge itself. It’s pretty cool really. They usually use this little thing to prick a baby’s heel.”

Rain held up a pen-like needle, twirling it between his fingers before tossing it aside with a faint clatter. The tiny instrument looked absurdly delicate in his hand. “But we need more than a drop, and we’re not babies. I think I have a suitable blade in my drawer.”

Snow’s eyes widened. Rain felt her nerves spike like a sudden cold draft. He opened the cabinet and pulled out a carved onyx throwing dagger, the black stone catching the lamplight.

“Yes! Not its intended purpose, but a blade is a blade.”

“Where exactly are you planning to cut me open?” Snow asked warily.

“You don’t have to do this, you know. My blood is enough.” He twirled the blade casually, smiling in that infuriatingly calm way of his. “We’re just testing whether my visions and Isarion; are right about our bloodline. It could be a complete waste of time. But if you want to do it, I’ll take the pain for you. You won’t feel a thing.”

“Okay, Mr. New Power,” she said, rolling her eyes to hide her nerves. “My hands are very fragile. Please don’t maim me.”

“Trust me.”

“I do.” She took a breath, then held out her hand. “Do mine first. Before I change my mind.”

Rain laughed softly at her adorable panic. He transported a lighter to his hand and with a flicker of flame, sterilised the blade, the metal hissing faintly. Taking her left palm, he gave her a moment to breathe, thumb brushing her wrist in reassurance.

“Okay. Inhale.”

She obeyed, turning her head away. Rain pressed the blade to her skin, slicing horizontally with practised precision. He siphoned the pain instantly, the sting blooming in his own palm. Snow winced at the sensation but felt no pain. Rain ignored the sharp throb in his hand and tilted her palm, letting blood drip into eight neat pools on the metal tray.

“Ah—shit.” He dropped the knife and pressed her palm between his hands to stop the bleeding. With his power, he flung open the bathroom door and summoned a flannel, catching it mid-air. “Hold this until it stops. I’m going to stop siphoning now; it’ll sting, but you’re done. Slow breaths. Your energy is spiking.”

“Okay. That wasn’t too bad. For future reference, saying ‘shit’ while cutting me open is not helpful.”